For the first two and a half weeks of this first term, we will be focussing on Manakitanga - and in particular encouraging high expectations around being ready for learning.

For the children this will include having their personal class resources in the right place, having themselves in the right place, managing their eating and drinking intake, and of course wearing a hat and using sunscreen when outside. All this requires a lot of practice but gaining independence and the ability to look after ones’ self is key to growing capable, useful and healthy chidlren. As much as possible, encourage your child to look after their own things, to take responsibility for themselves, and to use their own initiative when organising themselves. Habitually doing things for your child that s/he is capable of doing him/herself sends an inadvertent message that you don’t have confidence in his/her abilities. The outcome is a child who lacks independence, self-esteem and problem-solving skills and who can’t—or won’t—do age-appropriate tasks. This is often called “learned helplessness.”